There was no way he could ignore this temptation. Although the temptation is much reduced, it is still a temptation.
Although the family has many sources of money and a rich heritage, no one in this world despises having too much money. Especially for the position of head of aristocratic families, the competition is fierce, not much worse than the competition for the throne. As the head of the family, he always has to make some achievements.
Seeing the prince folding the map and handing it over, Wang Qiong took it with both hands and placed it in front of her.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked: "Since His Highness has already decided on the scope of selling spirits. Then, we should discuss the matter of food."
Li Xian nodded and waited for Wang Qiong to speak.
After thinking for a moment, Wang Qiong cupped his hands and said: "In Luozhou, corn is two and a half cents per dou, and japonica rice is ten copper coins per dou. Since Your Highness needs a large amount of food, and the quantity is large, you still have to give a discount. It's better to give him two and a half cents per dou of corn." Money, nine copper coins per dou of japonica rice, what do you think, Your Highness?"
Corn costs 2 cents, and japonica rice costs 9 cents. This price...
Li Xian frowned slightly and said without hesitation: "Yes, but the food must be sent to Chang'an, or I am planning to build a granary outside Chang'an, and you order people to deliver the food to the granary. That will work."
Two cents for corn and nine cents for round-grained rice seems to have lowered the price, but Li Xian knows very well that the current price of food on the market is the result of the game between the Office of Standardization, Chang Pingcang and the family. The price in today's market already includes a series of payments such as transportation costs and losses. If it is sold at this price, the family will still make money.
Otherwise, how can they sell food?
Therefore, the price is acceptable, but only if they are responsible for transporting the food.
Wang Qiong didn't expect the prince to even consider this, but even at this price, they still made money. After all, the land is theirs.
"Okay, then it's settled. But Your Highness, we still have to talk about the quantity issue. How many kilo of food do you plan to order each year?"
Li Xian smiled and said: "I'm really not sure about this. How about this? Our grain trade, we send people to negotiate once every year. As for this year, how about setting an order of 50,000 dan in advance?"
Fifty thousand shi of grain is definitely a big deal, but Wang Qiong's expression did not change at all. He cupped his hands and said, "Of course you can, but I have a suggestion. Your Highness, the wine you allocate to me will come from these 50,000 shi of grain." If you go out, you can avoid the trouble of having money circulating around, what do you think?"
Being able to simplify the transaction, Li Xian was naturally happy to agree.
At this point, the transaction was established. As for the price at which the liquor would be sold, Li Xian naturally ignored it.
Wang Bo had been sitting behind the scenes, drafting a contract in duplicate. After delivering it, he bowed and left.
Originally, a normal contract should be signed in triplicate, and one copy needs to be filed. However, when you reach the level of aristocratic family and prince, there is no need to be so cumbersome.
As long as the contract is signed, the new head of the family will continue to fulfill the contract even if Wang Qiong burps tomorrow. Reputation is what the family is most afraid of losing. Of course, these two words are for outsiders.
After all, it was the head of the family. After Wang Qiongzai read the contract carefully, he asked: "Your Highness seems to have missed one item. You haven't told me the price of this strong drink yet."
Seeing that he discovered this, Li Xian had no choice but to sigh: "A dou of ordinary turbid wine costs a hundred coins. Liquor is the essence of wine, and a dou must be sold for a regular price. Of course, this is an ordinary price. In disaster years, the price will be raised a bit. Because there is no way to set a price, this is something we will discuss once a year in the future. What do you think?"
Wang Qiong understood this kind of thing about raising prices on the ground, so he no longer hesitated at that moment. He put a pen on the contract, signed his name, and stamped his private seal.
The same goes for Li Xian, who stamped it with his own private seal. After all, this contract should not be put on the table.
The contract was established, and both men breathed a sigh of relief.
Especially Li Xian, it can be seen that Wang Qiong's sincerity is quite good. The bargaining situation that should have occurred did not occur. Although the Wang family made a lot of money from the grain transaction, but in cooperation, the partners must make money, so this is the best. Continued cooperation.
Wrapping the contract carefully in cowhide and putting it into his arms, Wang Qiong asked with a smile: "Since His Highness the Crown Prince has signed a contract with my Wang family, I believe that he will soon contact other aristocratic families. Your identity is delicate, if If you take the initiative to contact me, I’m afraid they won’t agree immediately.”
Li Xian smiled and said: "That's natural. I'll trouble you to inform them when you start selling spirits. But as a price for being late, the price of their food will be lowered again. What do you think?" "
Wang Qiong smiled and said nothing.
After standing up and taking a look at the sky outside, Li Xian said to Li Yun who was waiting at the door of the main hall: "I ordered someone to bring the chariot. There is still a distance from Mingde Hall to Chongjiao Hall, so don't throw the old man down. "
Wang Qiong was not surprised that he would receive such courtesy. In fact, if it hadn't been for the fact that the royal family and the five surnames had not dealt with each other since the time of Taizong, no matter which dynasty the head of an aristocratic family like him would receive such treatment when he entered the palace.
It wasn't until Wang Qiong was carried to the Chongjiao Hall by chariot that Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief.
The Wang family is still needed at the moment, and besides, the family's reputation is still very high. Therefore, under such circumstances, it is still necessary to carry people in a sedan chair.
As for dealing with them in the future, that is a matter for the future. At the moment, it is also an expedient measure to borrow their power to enhance one's own strength.
That night, Wang Qiong came home drunk, and Li Xian was also a little confused after drinking, and he didn't even know how he got back to the bedroom.
Early the next morning, the news spread like wildfire in Chang'an that the head of the Wang family went to the East Palace to see the prince, got drunk and was sent home with the prince's carriage and ceremonial staff.
After finding out what happened, Li Zhi, who was a little nervous, breathed a sigh of relief. It's just a contract and a business deal, it's not a big deal. Although the Wang family will make a lot of money from this, it is nothing compared to their already huge background.
When the Queen learned the news, she was a little unhappy. Because she had been suppressed by Queen Wang, she had always been prejudiced against the Wang family in Taiyuan. Over the years, she would always inadvertently promote children from other families who were born in Taiyuan, just to weaken the prestige of the Wang family.
Seeing the angry look of the Queen of Heaven, a female official in the palace took advantage of the time when she went out to prepare tea and said a few words to an inconspicuous little palace maid. Then, the words were gradually passed from the Mingyi Palace to the ears of the purchasing eunuch. middle.
As for the purchasing eunuch who was out, after the secret handover in Chang'an, the words spread all the way to the East Palace...
When Li Xian learned about this, it was almost noon.
Drinking made things worse. Not only did I get up much later in the morning, but even the martial arts practice process this morning was a bit weak.
And after hearing the news reported by a young eunuch, his already tired body felt tired again.
There was no way, he was not a god, he couldn't take everything into consideration, he really ignored the Queen's prejudice against the Wang family.
It is still necessary to maintain the emotions on the Queen's side. This matter can easily cause grudge, and grudge is a very strange thing. Sometimes, it will slowly disappear as time goes by, and sometimes, it will slowly ferment as time goes by. I don’t know how many times it expanded.
After changing clothes and grabbing Li Xian Taiping, Li Xian took the two of them to the Daming Palace on the grounds of asking for peace.
The three children came together to pay their respects, which made the Queen very curious. After hearing the news, she walked to the entrance of the palace to wait for the first time.
Soon, Li Xian came over with his younger brothers and sisters, bowed and said: "I have been busy with trivial matters recently, and I have forgotten to say hello to my mother. It is really unfilial! Li Xian, too, has not been out since he arrived at the East Palace. , so I specially brought him to apologize to my mother-in-law."
On the way here, Li Xian had already warned Li Xian.
Considering what happened at the funeral, Li Xian still needs to apologize.
Seeing his brother speak, Li Xian knelt down on the ground without hesitation, waved his sleeves and slapped himself twice, sobbing: "My son was deceived by the slander, and made such an order." My mother was angry because I didn't have the face to see my mother again. It was my sixth brother who told me that no matter how big a mistake a child makes, the mother will forgive her, but it still depends on her attitude. So today I came to apologize to my mother. Mother, please don’t be angry with me again, I am willing to accept the punishment.”
The Queen of Heaven never imagined that she would see such a scene. Seeing that Li Xian did not hold back at all, and his nose was bleeding, she quickly stepped forward, helped him, and sighed: "You can apologize like this, how can I bear to blame my mother?" As for you, get up quickly. Have you forgotten the Master’s teachings? How dare you damage your body, hair and skin, from your parents? If you hit you, it will hurt your mother’s heart!”
Seeing that he was indeed forgiven, Li Xian was shocked and sobbed "A'niang, Aniang". While secretly giving Brother Six a thumbs up.
After finally comforting Li Xian, the Queen glanced at Li Xian with satisfaction and said: "Okay, it seems that your brother's teachings are still useful, and it is not in vain to ask him to move to the East Palace against the rules. Besides, ....”
After looking at Li Xian, then at Li Xian, and finally at Taiping, the Queen smiled and said, "You guys, no matter what wrong you do, my mother will forgive you. Children, it is impossible not to make mistakes."
After saying that, the queen took out her handkerchief to wipe Li Xian's nosebleed, and sighed: "Really, why are you doing such a heavy hand? With Aye, you don't have to apologize, I have a mother to explain it to you." "
Hearing these words, Li Xian was immediately overjoyed. I have to say, these two slaps are still very painful! But Sixth Brother is right. Only by being ruthless will the mother not care about her previous mistakes and will only pity herself.
The Queen felt that the prince's words spoke to her heart. Yes, mothers should forgive their children for their mistakes.
Unconsciously, she forgot about the news she heard today.
Just when he was about to comfort Li Xian again, he heard Taiping speak:
"Auntie, my daughter really wants to live in the East Palace, so just promise her, okay?"
Seeing Taiping saluting there, the Queen of Heaven said without hesitation: "No, you are a daughter, how can it be inappropriate for a princess to live in the East Palace? Besides, you have a Taoist status, and my mother allows you to go to the East Palace often, which is already a sabotage." Behave yourself. Don’t mention the matter of living in the East Palace again!”
After seeing his mother, Taiping showed no intention of letting go, so Taiping could only sigh.
There were three children and they couldn't be held with two hands, so the Queen of Heaven had to drag Li Xian into the hall alone.
After sitting down, she looked at Li Xian with a smile and asked: "Okay, I am an elder brother after all. Li Xian really regrets because of the teachings of your elder brother. Taiping has a free and easy temper and likes to play, so you should be more tolerant." Some."
When he heard talking about himself, Taiping stood up and sat directly next to Tianhou. He hugged her arm and said with a sweet smile: "Mother, you don't know, Sixth Brother is really good at painting! Compared with Sixth Brother, Teach My daughter’s painter is nothing.”
"oh?"
Hearing this, the Queen looked at Li Xian in surprise. Although the painter who taught Taiping was not a master, he was almost there. It makes even the arrogant Taiping admire him so much. It seems that the prince's painting skills are indeed good!
Li Xian smiled bitterly and said: "It's all Taiping's bragging. I have been working behind closed doors for these years. How can I compare with the painter?"
Hearing this, Taiping gave up and pointed to a palace maid and ordered: "Go to the Sanqing Palace and get the painting tools for my princess."
Seeing that the palace maid was ordered to leave, Taiping held the Queen's arm and said, "You have never seen it before, otherwise you would be surprised."
Seeing Taiping's confident look, the Queen knew that what the prince had just said was purely self-effacing.
To be honest, she was also very curious about the prince's painting skills, so she said to Li Xian: "Since your sister has helped you brag like this, why don't you stop being modest and paint a painting for your mother?"
Although Li Xian still smiled bitterly, he felt happy in his heart, knowing that bringing Taiping would be the result.
Standing up, Li Xian saluted and said: "My mother has your destiny, how dare you disobey me. How about this? Can my mother allow me to use you as my painting?"
Originally I wanted to say "portrait", but considering that this term probably doesn't exist nowadays, Li Xian could only say that.
"Huh? Are you going to paint a lifelike portrait for my mother? That's fine, my mother has agreed. However, if your painting is not good, my mother will not accept it, but will destroy it. Do you understand?"
In fact, the diva likes expressive portrayal very much, but in the past two years, because her appearance has faded a little, she has abandoned it in the corner. As for the painter who painted her portrait, if he painted well, he would be rewarded heavily, and if he painted poorly, he would be punished at the least.
Li Xian naturally knew how difficult it was to paint a portrait of the Queen.
But...
It's not difficult. How to highlight the comfort of flattery?
